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April 20, 2015 Dione Dierks Phone :(310) 540-2021 x227

SIGI Schmid '71 Elected to US Soccer Hall of Fame

Former Bishop Montgomery student and coach honored by United States Soccer

Torrance, CA (April 20, 2015): Bishop Montgomery alumnus Sigi Schmid '71 has received the highest honor in United States soccer with his election to the National Soccer Hall of Fame. Schmid, currently the head coach of the Seattle Sounders of Major League Soccer, is the winningest coach in MLS history.

While at Bishop Montgomery, Schmid competed in track for the Knights, as there was no soccer program while he attended BMHS.Following his graduation, Schmid went on to star at UCLA, where he was a four-year starter for the Bruins. He earned his degree in economics in 1976.

In 1974, Schmid, along with Marine Cano, started the soccer program at BMHS. Schmid was the Co-Head Coach for two years at BMHS and helped lead the Knights to the CIF playoffs in both years. His overall coaching record at BMHS was 25-11-2, including the 1974-75 league title, the first in program history.


After graduating from UCLA, Schmid became the most successful soccer coach in the Bruins’ history, with a 19-year career record of 322-63-33 record (1980-1999). He led the Bruins to 16 consecutive post-season appearances and three national titles (1985, 1990, 1997). He was also an assistant coach on the 1994 World Cup team and the head coach of the U-20 National Team at the 1998 World Youth Championships. In 2004, he was inducted into the UCLA Athletic Hall of Fame.

Following his tenure at UCLA, Schmid become the head coach of the Los Angeles Galaxy, where he coached from 1999-2004. He led the Galaxy to the title of every major club championship in the United States, including the 2002 MLS Cup Championship. He was named the 1999 MLS Coach of the Year.

From 2006-2008, Schmid was the head coach of the Columbus Crew, and led them to the 2008 MLS Cup Championship and, again, earned MLS Coach of the Year honors.

In December of 2008, Schmid was named head coach of the Seattle Sounders, where he continues to coach today. Schmid has led the Sounders to the playoffs every season since assuming the head coach position in 2008.

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About Bishop Montgomery High School: Bishop Montgomery High School www.bmhs-la.org is a co-educational, college-preparatory high school in Torrance, CA. The mission of Bishop Montgomery is to provide quality, Catholic education to college-bound students of varied academic abilities in the South Bay area.